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Wings Day Program to double

Program to expand into leased space next door, doubling size, program offerings

By Shelley Widhalm

Reporter-Herald Staff Writer

Posted:
08/24/2014 07:51:42 PM MDT

Ali Pond works on an art project on Wednesday during art class at the Wings Day Program at Easter Seals Loveland. Next to her, from left, are Thalia Marshinsky, Vanessa Cox and Sharon Bucklen, being helped by Deb Myers, a direct care assistant with the program. (Jenny Sparks / Loveland Reporter-Herald)

Loveland resident Vanessa Cox used sticks and a cutout heart to create a design during an art class Tuesday at Easter Seals Colorado.

"I'm opening my heart right now," said Cox, who has been taking art classes from Marion Simmons, art director and instructor, since Simmons started teaching at the Wings Day Program five years ago. "These are the feelings I like to express in my artwork."

Cox participates in art classes, one of several lifelong learning activities offered at the day program for adults with developmental disabilities, through a regularly set schedule on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Starting next month, she will have the option to take art through a new program called Flyers, which will offer a more spontaneous schedule that combines lifelong learning with time spent out in the community.

Easter Seals Colorado, 1656 Topaz Drive, is leasing the suite next door to be able to increase program offerings and the number of clients it can serve. The nonprofit owns the current space and, with the lease that started in July, will be able to double in size.

The nonprofit, which currently serves 40 clients, will be able to serve 80 and get rid of its waiting list for new clients and particular days that services are offered, which is six hours a day Monday to Friday. The maximum number of clients the program can serve currently is 25 a day.

"I really like we're going to have two different day programs for two different types of people," said Katie Dockery, director of Wings.

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Wings provides a set schedule every week. In the morning, the participants take part in three hours of lifelong learning in the center, such as art and cooking classes and safety awareness discussions. Another three hours of supported community time follows in the afternoon, going bowling or swimming, touring local facilities, taking classes or going hiking.

With the expansion, Easter Seals will begin a second program next door called the Flyers, similar to Wings with a focus on lifelong learning and community exploration but rotating through activities on a varied schedule.

"The Wings side is good for people who like routine," Dockery said. "The other side will be something different every day ... the same types of activities but a different rotation."

Another new group called the Aviators is a community-only group, which has five to seven participants who engage in community exploration. The participants will spend their time off site, going to museum exhibits and art galleries, visiting local businesses and taking part in local cultural events.

The Flyers side of the building includes a kitchen that will be used for cooking classes, a large front room for the day program and art classes, a conference room and three offices. The offices will be reconfigured to meet the needs of the Flyers group as it develops.

"We'll use the offices for future growth," Dockery said. "We're really excited about the other side because it will open up the space for new participants."

Simmons will teach both the Wings and Flyers art classes, doubling from two to about four classes a week. She uses a variety of mediums including acrylic paints, watercolors, paper mache, markers and colored pencils, pretty much everything except oils because of the turpentine and odor.

In the new space, Simmons will be able to do larger-sized art projects, she said.

Simmons teaches the participants, usually six to eight at a time, by giving them step-by-step instructions and doing a sample piece. She also gives them lessons on shapes and colors, she said.

"Now, they plow right in," Simmons said. "They're not afraid to try. All I ask for them to do is to try."

Easter Seals Colorado sells greeting cards with art from the participants at the facility and at coffee shops, art galleries and other venues.

"I love seeing the excitement on their faces, the self-esteem they get," Simmons said.

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